Unbound

Confluence Academy, Book 1

De: Penelope Bloom

Narrado por: Rachel Leblang, Anthony Palmini

Nineteen-year-old Nessa Thorne expects death when she volunteers for Empire's selection. Instead, she's thrust into Confluence Academy, where students harness elemental magic and bond powerful beasts—from wolves to ancient dragons—forging themselves into the Empire's most lethal weapons.

Students are branded by affinity: water, air, earth, or fire. But Nessa's mark is different. A silver spiral—the mark of an unbound. It's a power so dangerous her kind were hunted to extinction centuries ago—or so the Empire claims.

To survive, she must hide what she is in a castle that reeks of blood, where students kill each other for advantage, and failing to tether an elemental means death.

Nessa's greatest threat may be the only other volunteer—Raith Hollow, a powerful fire affinity whose scorching gaze follows her every move and whose secrets could topple kingdoms.

Alliances are forged in blood, enemies circle like vultures, and forbidden desires close in. Death once seemed like a release from her tragic past. Now it's not an option. She'll embrace her terrible potential or watch everything she's fought for burn.

At Confluence Academy, students leave as weapons... or they don't leave at all.

A delicious slow-burning romance as dangerous as the magic? Check. A final line that will haunt you for weeks? Double check. An ending that will leave you desperate for book two? Absolutely.

©2025 Penelope Bloom (P)2025 Podium Audio

great story

this gives fourth wing vibes. the world building in here is amazing, and the story is captivating almost no dull moments. I can't wait for the second book

I love it!

The best comfort read. Just perfect slightly predictable but in the best way like a warm hug for my brain. AMaZing.

A must read

This will be the next fourth wing on so many levels. I couldn’t put this book down.

Loved this one!!

This was soo soo good! I don’t know why this isn’t more popular! There are a ton of similarities with Forth Wing but it doesn’t matter, this was fantastic and I can’t wait for book 2

piggyback

Before I share my personal review, I wanted to express my enjoyment of many of Penelope Bloom's books. However, I can't help but feel that this particular book may have drawn significant inspiration from *Fourth Wing*. Additionally, while the narrator's female voice is pleasant, but I believe the character's portrayal was not entirely suitable for this specific book, and her emotional expressions seemed out of sync with the narrative. and her male voices are teeth grinding.